The Five Largest Freshwater Lochs in Scotland - Holiday Parks The Five Largest Freshwater Lochs in Scotland The Five Largest Freshwater Lochs in Scotland January 22, 2013 at 2:44 pm The Five Largest Freshwater Lochs in Scotland: Lochs by Volume, Area, Length and Depth Loch Ness might get almost all the press when it comes to the Scottish Lochs, but it’s by no means the largest or longest. There are at least 31,460 lochs in Scotland, and out of these, there are lochs that are deeper, longer and larger in area than Loch Ness. Loch is simply the Scottish Gaelic and Irish word for a lake or sea inlet, and there is only one natural body of water called a ‘lake’ in Scotland: Lake Menteith. This article is a guide to the five largest lochs by volume, area, length and depth. Holiday Parks offer breaks at Lomond Woods at Loch Lomond – the largest loch in Scotland by surface area. 5 Largest Scottish Lochs by Volume Loch Ness is by far the largest loch in Scotland by volume, and it contains more water than all of the lakes in England and Wales combined.

Of course, it’s apparently the home of the fabled Loch Ness monster, and this huge volume of water has given Nessy plenty of space to hide over since her modern ‘sighting’ in 1933. 5 Largest Scottish Lochs by Area Loch Ness wins for volume for its consistent depth for its area, but Loch Lomond actually has a considerably larger surface area. Most originated from glacial over deepening of the valleys they now occupy, and are subsequently long and thin in shape. Loch Lomond has a bulbous southern expanse of water, which gives it a greater surface area than the other lochs. 5 Longest Scottish Lochs Loch Awe is the longest loch – just beating Loch Ness by 2km. It is located to the West of Loch Lomond in Argylle and Bute. While it has a length of 41km, it has an average width of 1km. It is particularly well renowned for trout and salmon – so if you’re a keen fisher, then Loch Awe is a good spot. 5 Deepest Scottish Lochs by Depth Loch Morar is the deepest freshwater body in the British Isles, at a depth of 310m.

Much like Loch Ness, it’s home to a legendary monster – dubbed morag by the locals. Loch Morar would be able to fit the newly opened London building The Shard, which is also 310m in height, exactly in its depth. The 10 Most Beautiful Lakes You Can Visit In Scotland The 10 Most Beautiful Lakes You Can Visit In Scotland by John Taylor Scotland is the northernmost country in the British Isles, and the glacier-carved landscape is utterly stunning.There can be no doubt that Scotland is one of the most beautiful and historically fascinating countries in the world. There are more than 31,000 lakes in Scotland. Here we have a list of 10 most beautiful lakes in Scotland. Loch Lomond Flickr/ Strength The bonnie banks of Loch Lomond are famous for being the place where true lovers parted, never to meet again, at least according to the traditional Scottish folk song. Straddling the boundary between the Highlands and Lowlands, the 39-km (24-mile) long lake is the longest inland stretch of surface water in Britain and it home to the largest island, Inchmurrin, in the British Isles.

Loch Lomond is one of Scotland’s most popular lakes with water sports enthusiasts. Loch Trool Loch Trool is one of the most scenic lakes in southwestern Scotland. This beautiful lake is located in Galloway Forest Park. This lake is popular with hikers, with a 9-km (5.5-mile) walk around the perimeter which can be done in about three hours. Loch Morar Flickr/ Emma Loch Morar is another beautiful lake of Scotland which is more than 300 meters deep. It is the deepest freshwater lake in the British Isles and located in the Highlands. Loch Arklet Flickr/ J McSporran Loch Arklet is a small but very beautiful lake located between lochs Katrine and Lomond. You can walk to Loch Lomond from Loch Arklet. The lake is popular for fishing brown trout. Fishing is permitted only from a boat (no engine) since the lake is part of a public water supply. Loch Arklet is a good place to see osprey and wild goats, among other wildlife. The loch is located in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

Loch Tummel Flickr/ mdsharpe This Loch is popular with anglers who are after lake trout. Most of the visitors consider this as the best in Scotland. The best views of the Scottish countryside in Perthshire can be found at Queens View, made famous by Queen Victoria, though the view may have been originally named for Queen Isabel, first wife of Robert the Bruce. The loch is one of Perthshire’s most popular attractions. Loch Shiel This another popular lake in Scotland. Loch Shiel is the fictional Black Lake near Hogwarts in Harry Potter. This lake also was featured in The Highlander movies. Loch Katrine Flickr/ J McSporran Fans of Sir Walter Scott’s novels may enjoy a visit to Loch Katrine since it is the setting for The Lady of the Lake. The loch’s name is derived from a Gaelic word meaning cattle thief. Chief among them was Rob Roy MacGregor who was born at the end of the 18-km (11-mile) lake in the Highlands. The Stirling district’s Loch Katrine is a popular tourist destination, especially for day-trippin’ Glasgow residents who get their water supply from it.

Loch Maree Flickr/ samwelcomesyou Loch Maree is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in Scotland. Located in the northern Highlands, the lake also has its own legendary monster, the muc-shelich, which may be only a large eel. The Isle Maree has a chapel, graveyard, remains of a 7th century monastery, and stands of oak and holly that have been linked to the Druids. Loch Awe Lake Awe is the third largest freshwater lake in Scotland and also famous for trout fishing. It is also the longest. The lake has several islands in it; some have remains of ancient castles on them. This includes Kilchum Castle, which is the most photographed castle in Scotland. Nearby is the village named for it, Lochawe. The Argyll district lake is the first one in the Three Lakes Challenge for relay swimmers; the other lakes are in England and Wales. Loch Ness Loch Ness is the second deepest lake in Scotland. You can also see Urquhart Castle on the western shore and lighthouses at Lochend and Fort Augustus.

Source – Wikipedia Freshwater lochs - Scottish Natural Heritage Freshwater lochs Vegetation communities of British lakes - JNCC Freshwater lochs There are more than 30,000 freshwater lochs in Scotland. We manage the Standing Waters Database which includes aquatic plant and other data from more than 3,000 of these. There are many small lochs and lochans in Scotland, especially in the western and northern Highlands. Many lochans and pools have formed in peaty areas. Small lochs are also found in corries and in moraines,ï¿½such asï¿½lochs in kettle holes, whereas many of the larger lochs are found in u-shaped valleys. Formation of these loch basins is attributable to glaciation , which shaped the Scottish landscape. The five largest lochs in Scotland, Awe, Lomond, Morar, Ness and Shiel,ï¿½hold about a third of all the water held in lochs in Scotland.

Although Loch Lomond has the largest surface area (71 km2) and Loch Morar the greatest depth (310 m), the largest loch by volume is Loch Ness, which contains more water than all the lakes in England and Wales together (7,452 millionï¿½m3). What is special about Scotland's freshwater lochs? The types of flora and fauna inhabiting Scotland's lochs depend on the physical dimensions of the basins, but also on the chemistry of the water and sediments of the loch, and the soils and geology of the catchment area. Conditions range from soft, relatively acidic waters with low levels of nutrients, to hard, more alkaline waters with higher nutrient concentrations. Lochs with soft water and low nutrient concentrations tend to be found in the north-west and in upland areas, whereas lochs with higher levels of nutrients are often found in lowland areas to the south and east, where more fertile deposits and shallow basins tend to be found. A special group of lochs, of which Scotland has many, are those which are stained yellow or brown with substances that come from peaty soils.

These dystrophic water bodies, also known as dubh lochans, are generally small and shallow. Light penetration is poor due to the colour of the water and commonly, the water is acidic. Nutrient levels are generally low, but may also be higher than expected, given that these water bodies are generally situated in areas of e.g. raised or blanket bogs, and peaty soil types. In addition, although they are normally associated with lowland areas, these lochs have been recorded up to an altitude of 928m. Areas of Scotland of particular interest for their lochs include the Western and Northern Isles and Durness. The Western and Northern Isles have a wide range of loch types within a relatively small area. Shetland has particularly complex geology, as well as areas of peaty or sandy substrates. The Western Isles also have sandy and peaty substrates, but are unusual in having machair. In island groups, the chemistry of lochs is also influenced by salts which are blown in from the sea, by the wind. This results in lochs being more fertile than would normally be expected. A similar effect occurs in lochs situated close to the sea in mainland Scotland.

On the Durness limestone, there are marl lakes, with very clear, hard water and low levels of nutrients. The lochs support a diverse and extensive flora including several native pondweeds and a number of charophytes. Loch Borralie may be the deepest marl lake in the UK and is the only one which supports Arctic charr. This is not a common type of lake in Scotland and these lochs are the most northerly examples of the type in the UK. Threats to Scotland's lochs The most common threat to the flora and fauna in Scotland's lochs is that of pollution with nutrients . This may result in changes in the species present, increased growth of algae and ultimately in a turbid water body with no submerged plants and persistent algal blooms, which is of little value for recreation or conservation. Another particular threat to the ecology of Scotland's lochs is that of invasive non-native species such as New Zealand pygmyweed and water fern, but Canadian pondweed and Nuttall's pondweed also remain a problem, particularly in lochs supporting some of Scotland's rarest and most protected species.

10 Most Scenic Lakes in Scotland – Touropia Travel Experts Last updated on November 2, 2016 in Scotland Leave a Comment They’re rugged, scenic and starkly beautiful. Some have legendary monsters swimming in them. And they’re everywhere. There are more than 31,000 lochs or lakes in Scotland in a variety of sizes. The lochs provide good fishing for anglers and great opportunities for hikers, not to mention an endless array of photo ops. See Also Where to Stay in Edinburgh 10Loch Trool Located in Galloway Forest Park, Loch Trool is considered one of the most scenic lochs in southwestern Scotland. It’s said to be the darkest place in the United Kingdom at night. Close by is the highest peak in southern Scotland. Robert the Bruce fought the English on the shores of the loch in 1307; this battle is commemorated with Bruce’s Stone. The loch is popular with hikers, with a 9-km (5.5-mile) walk around the perimeter. The walk is strenuous, but can be done in about three hours.

9Loch Morar flickr/ Emma Loch Morar, located in the Highlands, is the deepest freshwater lake in the British Isles, reaching depths of more than 300 meters (1,000 feet). One of the shortest rivers, the River Morar, in the British Isles is at the western end. The north shore is home to Swordland Lodge, which was a special ops training school during World War II. The lake also has its own monster, Morag who may be either a mermaid or a grim reaper. 8Loch Arklet flickr/ J McSporran Loch Arklet is a pretty, small loch located between lochs Katrine and Lomond; though the path is sometimes steep you can walk to Loch Lomond from Loch Arklet. The lake is popular with fishermen. Fishing for brown trout is permitted only from a non-gasoline powered boat since the lake is part of a public water supply. Loch Arklet is a good place to see osprey and wild goats, among other wildlife. The loch is located in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.

7Loch Tummel flickr/ mdsharpe Loch Tummel is popular with anglers who are after lake trout. But it’s just as popular with visitors who come to enjoy the views, considered the best in Scotland . The best views of the Scottish countryside in Perthshire can be found at Queens View, made famous by Queen Victoria, though the view may have been originally named for Queen Isabel, first wife of Robert the Bruce. The loch is one of Perthshire’s most popular attractions. 6Loch Shiel flickr/ Christoph Strassler Fans of Harry Potter may recognize Loch Shiel: it’s the fictional Black Lake near Hogwarts. The loch also was featured in The Highlander movies. The starkly, beautiful rugged lake is mountains at one end, bogs at the other, and is steeped in history. There’s a ruined chapel, a battlefield site where the Scots defeated the Norse in 1140, and it’s where Bonnie Prince Charlie was rowed the length of the lake so he could plant his standard at Glenfinnan in 1745.

5Loch Lomond flickr/ Strength The bonnie banks of Loch Lomond are famous for being the place where true lovers parted, never to meet again, at least according to the traditional Scottish folk song. Straddling the boundary between the Highlands and Lowlands, the 39-km (24-mile) long lake is the longest inland stretch of surface water in Britain and it home to the largest island, Inchmurrin, in the British Isles. Loch Lomond is one of Scotland’s most popular lakes with water sports enthusiasts. 4Loch Katrine flickr/ J McSporran Fans of Sir Walter Scott’s novels may enjoy a visit to Loch Katrine since it is the setting for The Lady of the Lake. The loch’s name is derived from a Gaelic word meaning cattle thief. Chief among them was Rob Roy MacGregor who was born at the end of the 18-km (11-mile) lake in the Highlands. The Stirling district’s Loch Katrine is a popular tourist destination, especially for day-trippin’ Glasgow residents who get their water supply from it.

Popular Tours in Scotland flickr/ samwelcomesyou Loch Maree, which is punctuated with five large and 60 small islands, is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in Scotland. Located in the northern Highlands, the lake also has its own legendary monster, the muc-shelich, which may be only a large eel. The Isle Maree has a chapel, graveyard, remains of a 7th century monastery, and stands of oak and holly that have been linked to the Druids. Soaking in the lake was one believed to be a cure for mental illness. 2Loch Awe Famous for its trout fishing, Lake Awe is the third largest freshwater lake in Scotland. It is also the longest. The lake has several islands in it; some have remains of ancient castles on them. This includes Kilchum Castle, which is the most photographed castle in Scotland. Nearby is the village named for it, Lochawe. The Argyll district lake is the first one in the Three Lakes Challenge for relay swimmers; the other lakes are in England and Wales. 1Loch Ness If you’re lucky, you just might catch a glimpse of Nessie, the legendary monster said to inhabit Loch Ness.

If you’re not, perhaps because of poor water visibility due to high peat content, you can always hear about sightings from Inverness residents. Loch Ness is the second deepest lake in Scotland, giving Nessie lots of places to hide. For sure, though, you can see Urquhart Castle on the western shore and lighthouses at Lochend and Fort Augustus. See Also Loch Ness travel guide - Wikitravel 14 Get out Loch Ness is Scotland's (if not the world's) most famous lake (or 'loch' in Scotland). It runs for 23 miles (37 km) along the natural geological cleft that stretches from Fort William in the west of the Scottish Highlands, to Inverness in the north. About a mile wide at most places it is the purported home of the Loch Ness monster, a possibly mythical creature, which dwells in the Loch and is occasionally spotted by locals and passers-by. The sightings claimed lend credence to the remote possibility of a group of survivors of the long-extinct plesiosaurs (which lived up to around 65 million years ago).

Urquhart Castle from Loch Ness Urquhart Castle with Loch Ness in the background Regions[ edit ] The Scottish Highlands consist of a plateau dissected by glacier scoured glens (valleys), many of them containing lochs (lakes). Loch Ness, the largest body of water in UK, lies in the geological fault known as Glen Mor or Great Glen. The latter stretches for about 60 miles (97 km). The Caledonian Canal joins four lochs in the Great Glen – Dochfour, Ness, Oich and Lochy – and at each end connects to the sea. It connects to the North Sea at Inverness via the Moray Firth and the Atlantic Ocean at Corpach near Fort William. A series of lock gates in the canal helps to raise or lower ships. Loch Ness extends from Fort Augustus at one end to Lochend near Inverness at the other. It is 740 feet (226 metres) deep at its deepest point and is the second largest Scottish loch by surface area at 21.8 sq mi (56.4 sq km). Loch Lomond is larger with an area of 71 sq km.

In fact Loch Ness is not the deepest loch either. Loch Morar plunges to over 1,000ft. And it is not the longest Loch, that record goes to 34 mile Loch Awe. Loch Ness, however, owing to its steep-sided, flat-bottomed side-slip fault line origins is the largest volume of freshwater in the British Isles, containing more water than all the lakes, rivers and reservoirs of England and Wales combined ... room enough for a few mysteries. The A82 road which runs along the western bank of Loch Ness offers stunning views of the loch all along the route. Rugged hills climb steeply from the loch’s dark waters. There are many parking places along the road where vehicles can be parked and the beauty of the surroundings savoured. There are some less used roads on the eastern side of the loch. A complete circuit of the loch covers about 70 miles (110 km). Driving on these roads can be challenging if you are not used to driving on the left. It may be better to take a tour along the loch or see it by boat. See the section on tours below.

Loch Ness near Lochend Cities/Towns/Villages[ edit ] Apart from A82 several other roads converge on the city – A9 comes from beyond Aviemore in the south-east and then moves further north-west to Alness and beyond, A 96 comes from the north-east. Smaller roads come from other directions. Drumnadrochit – It is a popular stop for tourists with The Highlands and Islands Tourism Award winning, 5 The Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition and the other the 3 Star Nessieland Castle Monster Centre . The Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition - Using a highly effective mix of lasers, digital projection and special effects the Loch Ness Exhibition charts the history of the monster by exploring Scotland's geological past, its folklore and the various research projects carried out on the loch. It also reveals the discoveries of some of that research including the environmental fingerprints left in the loch's layers by both nature and mankind. Adult £6.95 Concession £5.95 Child 7 - 15 £4.95 (Children under 7 free) Family £19.95 (2 adults and up to 2 children)Group rates are available for groups of 10 or more.

' Nessieland Castle Monster Centre ' Steer clear to avoid disappointment. The ruins of the 5 Star, Urquhart Castle Castle Urquhart are two miles away at Strone point. A 831 road leaves from here for some beautiful areas, ultimately reaching Inverness. Invermoriston - The valley of the River Moriston that empties itself into the loch here, over a series of rapids, is one of the most beautiful of all the highland glens. The road is lined with mature deciduous trees on both sides creating an avenue of natural beauty. A887 road takes off in the direction of the Isle of Skye . The Loch Ness Youth Hostel (part of Scottish Youth Hostels Association) is located at Alltsigh, nearby (Telephone: 01320 351274.) About two miles on the road to Fort Augustus is Invermoriston Camping and Caravan site where tourists can pitch their tents or park a caravan on the banks of the loch. Fort Augustus – It is the largest of the loch side villages. There is a tourist office near the car park.

The Hannoverians built a series of forts to secure the Great Glen: Fort George near Inverness, Fort Augustus in the heart of the Great Glen, and Fort William at the southern end. Other destinations[ edit ] Glenmoriston - The A887 takes off from Invermoriston and heads west for Glenmoristion along the River Moriston. The road links to A87 further ahead. The sheer beauty of the place is recommeded by all for a detour from the main track. One can travel even 20-25 miles inside but say around 10 miles or so could show a visitor what a place it is. About 5 miles inside is Dundreggan Loch (Dundreggan means 'the hill of the dragon'). It is an artificial lake created for hydro-electricity generation. Another 2 miles in is the Redburn Café, a great place to eat, with such ice cream concoctions as the Loch Ness Monster. Glen Affric [1] and Glen Cannich [2] – The A831 takes off from Drumnadrochit for the remote village of Cannich, 12 miles to the west.

Glen Affric and Glen Cannich are located further west. Loch Mulladroch was created as part of a hydro-electric scheme Understand[ edit ] Scotland is a sparsely populated country and only a small proportion of that population lives in the Scottish Highlands. Therefore, it is mostly barren territory. Villages in the highlands are small neat places with a lot of fighting and history behind them. It has been a battle against nature and also amongst human beings for survival and supremacy. Some interesting facts: Number of tourists visiting Scotland annually surpass the population of Scotland and the number of Scots living outside Scotland is many times more than the population of Scotland. Talk[ edit ] English is the official language of Scotland and is spoken by more or less everyone. Gaelic is spoken by about 60,000, and many Gaelic words are commonly used. The Scots, like most Britons, generally flourish when they live abroad but at home have rather poor foreign language skills, although those in tourism-related industries generally have better language skills. French, German and Spanish are the most commonly known foreign languages.

Here are some useful Gaelic words: Aber = river mouth ( Aberdeen ) Get in[ edit ] You can get into the area from either Inverness in the north or from Fort William and then via Fort Augustus in the south. Both the entry points are well connected by road to all major cities in the area and beyond. Inverness Airport [3] (Information Desk Tel: 01667 464000) is situated at Dalcross, 9 miles (15 km) east of the city, just off the main A96 trunk road. It connects to Edinburgh, London and a number of other places. Inverness railway station is located in the City Centre. There are direct services to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and London. A large number of tourists visit the area in coaches from Edinburgh, Fort William or Glasgow. Listed below are some of the tour operators, but do keep in mind that Loch Ness is about 150 miles form Edinburgh and Glasgow and it may be better to stay overnight in Inverness. Some of the tours below permit you to break your tour in the city of Inverness.

Megabus [4] This is not a tour, but can take you from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Inverness very inexpensively (can be as low as £1 per person depending on when you book). This is a very scenic journey through the Cairngorms especially if you are on one of their vehicles with an upper deck. Scotline Tours [5] offers 1 day tours from Edinburgh in luxury buses with knowledgeable guides. Office: 87 High Street, Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 1SG. Price (including entrance to Urquhart Castle): £33 for adults, £28 for students/seniors, £18 for children. Haggis Adventures [6] Budget coach tours to the Highlands, with local Guides. 60 High Street, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, call our crew on 0131 557 9393 or e-mail info@haggisadventures.com. Student and group discount available, Day tours from £25. Heart of Scotland [7] conducts 1 day tours from Edinburgh. Telephone: (+44) 131 558 8855.

Price: £32, Discounted £30 (students, over 60’s, under 12’s) Destination Scotland [8] conducts tours from Edinburgh, same day return or night halt at Fort Augustus. Price: £30 for 1 day trip, £65 for 2 days trip. Highland Explorer Tours [9] , 60 High Street, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh. call (+44) 131 558 3738. Price from £25. E-mail:info@highlandexplorertours.com. 5 star fully guided tours to the Highlands. Timberbush Tours [10] , 555 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh EH1 2ND, Reservations +44 131 226 6066 (7am to 10 pm), Fax +44 131 220 0174. E-mail: tours@timberbushtours.com, conducts tours from Edinburgh, Price: £32 for 1 day tours, £65 for 2 days tours with night halt at Fort William.

They also conduct tours from Glasgow, Price: £32 for 1 day tours Scottish Tours [11] organizes 1 day/ 2 day tours from Edinburgh (Gate J, Edinburgh Bus Station, North St Andrews St., Edinburgh) and Glasgow (Platform 6, Buchanan Bus Station, Glasgow), Cost 1 day tour Adult £ 31.00, Child £ 26.00, 2 days tour with night halt at Inverness - Guest House, Single £ 140.00, Twin £ 125.00, Hotel, Single £ 170.00, Twin £ 150.00 Scottish Highland Tours [12] Telephone (+44) 1397 704901, offers tours from Fort William in luxury buses and also offers taxis and cars from Fort William. [13] Get around[ edit ] Ready for the Loch Ness cruise Public transport is not the best way to see what this area has to offer. The problem is the infrequency of the buses, which are limited to the main roads. Instead, it is recommended that you hire a car, or join a tour group.

Cruises on the loch leave from Dochfour, or Drumnadrochit. The best way to get to these is to use the cruise companies buses (sometimes complimentary) See[ edit ][ add listing ] Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition The Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition VisitScotland graded 5 Star Visitor Attraction.The exhibition was opened by explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes. It takes visitors through seven themed areas on a journey from the dawn of time to the third millennium.An insight into the loch's wider significance. Designed and narrated by Loch Ness Project leader, the naturalist Adrian Shine ( Loch Ness Project ). Whilst keeping the mystery centre stage, it is placed firmly into the context of a loch with rare & unusual properties: some still motivate expeditions while others can "create" monsters. Here are the results of that exploration, using the very latest multi-media system, original research equipment and authentic underwater films. Loch Ness Information [14] This website tackles the Loch Ness mystery in a down to earth manner and contains a lot of resources for potential visitors. Nessie [15] or the Loch Ness Monster – Be alert! Keep your eyes wide open, look closely, and best of luck!

Urquhart Castle [16] – The most famous site in the area. The castle is in ruins but an impressive ruin with walls, four turrets and the keep. The beauty of the place coupled with its history makes it so attractive. The position of the castle at Strone Point is dramatic and commands a wide view of Loch Ness. There had been a fortress at that point from ancient times and the castle was associated with big names of Scottish history such as Saint Columba (6th century) and Robert the Bruce (12-13th century). The end came with a bang in the final years of the 17th century when it was packed with explosives and blown up to render it useless to the Jacobites. Those visiting the castle must not miss the dramatic audiovisual presentation at the centre there, certainly one of the best anywhere in the world. It is in English but depending on the composition of the tourists sub-titles are added in some other languages. Open all year, except on 25th and 26th December. Opens: 9.30 am.

Last tickets sold: 3.45 pm (1st October to 31st March), 5.45 pm (1st April to 30th September). Price: Adult £6.50 Child £2.50 Concessions £5.00. Child (ages 5 - 15); Concession (60 years and over and the unemployed). Lockgates in the Caledonian Canal, near For Augustus The Caledonian Canal – The staircase of locks can be seen fom the road itself as it crosses the canal at Fort Augustus and also also crosses the canal near Inverness. Each lock can raise or lower a ship 8 feet. Started in 1803 and completed in 1822 this enormous enterprise was entirely funded by the government of the day. (Caledonia was the northern part of Britain beyond Roman control, roughly correponding to present-day Scotland.) Do[ edit ][ add listing ] It is a place to see, eat and drink but those who desire to buy souvenirs can do so at small outlets. The new Visitor Centre at Urquhart Castle has good stocks of items for tourists.

However, a place such as Fort Willaim offers a wider choice of Scottish dresses, wollenware, mementoes and of course Scotch Whisky. Most of the tour operators bringing in tourists from Edinburgh provide a lunch break at Fort William, long enough for more than just a look at the variety. Go hiking - Loch Ness is a very popular area for walkers [17] and the Great Glen Way traverses the length of the lake. Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] The area being one of major tourist attraction, there is no dearth of restaurants. Breakfast is a great attraction and there is so much variety ranging from Big Scottish Breakfast to Whole Day Breakfast. A breakfast is good enough to keep one going for several hours. Food is basically meat-based. Fish is also available. Those who want to avoid both have to look for vegetable sandwiches, croissants and salads. Sleep[ edit ][ add listing ] For those who wish to spend a few days in the area, there are places to stay. Invermoriston Holidays [18] , Glenmoriston, By Loch Ness, Inverness-shire IV63 7YF .

Telephone: (+44) 1320 351254, rax: (+44) 1320 351343, ihc@ipw.com . Price from £215 per week. Lann Dearg Studios [19] , Invermoriston, by Loch Ness, Inverness-shire IV63 7YG . Telephone: (+44) 1320 351353. stay@lanndearg.co.uk . B&B and SC Price from £26pp per night. Fern Cottage [20] , B&B, Dalcataig, Invermoriston, Loch Ness, Inverness-shire IV63 &YG UK. Prices from: £21 - £25 per person/night. Ardgarry Farm Bed and Breakfast [21] , Faichem, Inverness, Invergarry, Loch Ness, PH35 4HG. Scottish Tourist Board Approved Accommodation. Up to 4 rooms B&B. Rates variable as per season.

Loch Ness Youth Hostel [22] , Glenmoriston, Inverness-shire, IV63 7YD Telephone: 0870 004 1138. SYHA Hostel with beds from £12.50 per night. In most places the rates vary as per season and winter discounts are available. In summer most places are heavily booked and so try early for a booking. Stay safe[ edit ] Be prepared for the unexpected cold and the rains. Many hotels and B&B in large European cities allow outgoing guests to keep luggage in the lobby or some room after they check out, in order that they may collect the same later in the day. Tourists should not take it for granted in Scotland. They should check the system beforehand to avoid complications later. Lakes Loch Doon Lake in southwest Scotland, 5 km / 3 miles south of Dalmellington, forming part of the border between East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway unitary authorities. It lies nearly 210 m / 689 ft above sea-level, and covers an area 10 km / 6 miles long and 2 km / 1 miles wide.

The loch, dotted with several small islands, is enclosed by mountains, and contains salmon and trout. Its surplus waters have been diverted south to the River Ken to augment supply to the Galloway hydroelectric scheme. Loch Fyne Sea-inlet in Argyll and Bute unitary authority, Scotland, extending about 65 km / 40 miles north and northeast from the Sound of Bute between the Kintyre peninsula and Argyll on the west and the Cowal peninsula on the east. It reaches a maximum depth of 200 m / 656 ft. Inverary stands on its western shore, about 14 km / 9 miles from the head of the loch. Further south, the fishing port of Tarbert is renowned for its herring catches. Loch Katrine Lake in Stirling unitary authority, Scotland, 8 km / 5 miles east of Loch Lomond and 15 km / 9 miles west of Callander. The loch extends over a distance of 13 km / 8 miles and its width is less than 2 km / 1 miles at its widest point.

Loch Katrine is situated in the heart of the Trossachs area, noted for its magnificent scenery. Its waters discharge through the lochs of Achray and Vennachar into Eas Gobhain, which flows east for approximately 3 km / 2 miles and then joins Garbh Uisg to form the River Teith, and supply the city of Glasgow. Ellen's Isle is located on the lake, and the mountains of Ben Venue and Ben A'an rise either side of its outflow. Loch Leven Lake in Perth and Kinross, Scotland; area 16 sq km / 6 sq miles. The river Leven flows from Loch Leven. It has six islands; Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned on Castle Island until she escaped in 1568. The whole loch has been a National Nature Reserve since 1964. The loch is known for its trout fisheries. St Serf's, the largest island in the loch, contains the ruins of an old priory.

Loch Linnhe Sea-inlet on the west coast of Scotland, 56 km / 35 miles long and 2-8 km / 1-5 miles wide, forming part of the border between Highland, and Argyll and Bute unitary authorities. Fort William stands at the head of the loch , at the junction with Loch Eil and the beginning of the Caledonian Canal system. Its waters are divided by the Corran Narrows, with Loch Leven entering the lower half. The island of Lismore lies within the mouth of Loch Linnhe as it joins the Firth of Lorn. Loch Lochy Lake in Highland unitary authority, Scotland, covering an area 16 km / 10 miles long and 1 km / 0.6 miles wide. It forms part of the Caledonian Canal system, linked to Loch Oich by Laggan Locks. Loch Lomond Largest freshwater Scottish lake, 37 km / 21 miles long, area 70 sq km / 27 sq miles.

It is overlooked by the mountain Ben Lomond (973 m / 3,192 ft) and is linked to the Clyde estuary. Loch Morar Lake on the west coast of Highland unitary authority, Scotland, extending 19 km / 12 miles in length, with an outflow across a narrow bridge of land to the Sound of Sleat, 5 km / 3 miles south of Mallaig. It is the deepest loch in the British Isles, reaching a maximum depth of 310 m / 1,017 ft. Loch Ness Lake in the Highland unitary authority, Scotland, extending northeast to southwest. Forming part of the Caledonian Canal, it is 36 km / 22.5 miles long, 2 km / 1 miles wide (on average), 229 m / 754 ft deep, and is the greatest expanse of fresh water in Europe. There have been unconfirmed reports of a Loch Ness monster since the 15th century.

Loch Ness, Loch Lochy and Loch Oich are connected by the Caledonian Canal, and together provide the only navigable channel between the east and west coasts of Scotland. Loch Rannoch Lake in Perth and Kinross unitary authority, Scotland, lying 204 m / 669 ft above sea level, and extending over an area 15 km / 9 miles long and about 2 km / 1 miles wide. The River Tummel, a tributary of the River Tay, flows through the loch from west to east.

Question: Which Scottish Loch is the deepest freshwater lake in the British Isles?
Answer: Loch Morar